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Trapped (2015- ) – An Engrossing Moody Crime Series Set in a Small Icelandic Town

Nordic Noir has become synonymous with dark meticulously
crafted story-lines, unforgettable three-dimensional characters, and
spellbinding realization of natural atmosphere. For more than a decade, morally complex
crime fictions hailing from Scandinavian nations are kindling our reading appetite more
and more. Swedish writers Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo’s Martin Beck mystery
series kicked off in 1965 and finished in 1975. The novels were adapted into multi-part
TV series and numerous films. The authors take on social conflicts and
characterization of detective protagonist later found its way into the Nordic Noir,
where Swedish and Norwegian writers like Stieg Larsson (Millennium Trilogy),
Henning Mankell (Wallender series), and Jo Nesbo (Harry Hole series)
transcended premises of murder mystery into fascinating critiqueon contemporary European society and western
capitalism. The boundaries of Nordic Noir widened with the rise of mind-blowing
TV series like The Bridge (Bron/Broen), Borgen, and The Killing (Forbrydelsen).
Nordic Noir distinguishing trait is its ground-breaking characters (Katrine
Fonsmark, Saga Noren, and Sarah Lund are memorable female characters in TV
series ever), starkly realistic and precise setting, stripped off all the
crowd-pleasing sub-plots often found in American or other crime fictions. While critics
feel that end is in sight for Nordic Noir wave, the Scandinavian writers keep
on surprising us every year.

Iceland was a bit left out from the international success
enjoyed by TV series’ from other Nordic countries. Icelandic director
Baltasar Kormakur (101 Reykjavik, Contraband, Everest) extinguished that feeling with
his 10-part murder mystery series Trapped (2015- ). The series debuted in Europe
last year (first Icelandic series to be released by BBC) and went on to become
international hit (with at least one million Brits and 5 million French watching
its 10 episodes). The huge success led to its renewal for 2nd
season, set to be screened in 2018. Trapped perfectly confirms to the basic
elements of Nordic Noir, attracting existing fans, and moreover Baltasar Kormakur and his team of talented writers bring their own unique sensibilities
to keep things fresh.

Trapped has two central characters: one is burly, poker-faced
police chief Andri Olafsson (Olafur Darri Olafsson) with small icicles clinging
to his unkempt beard; and the other is bad weather assaulting the poetic landscape. The
very first difference we notice between other small-town based TV series and
Trapped is its punishing weather. The huge mounds of snow all around the town
perfectly sets up the trap for its characters – physically and psychologically. Furthermore, watching it in this hot weather I even felt a little chill, while
consuming the images of beautiful yet brutal landscape. The story is set in
Siglufjordur, a breathtakingly scenic little fishing town, north of Iceland’s
capital Reykjavik. The people of the town have to wear heavy layers of outfit
before driving or walking through the blizzard to their offices, schools or
boat yards. All is definitely not well for protagonist Andri when the 1st
episode begins. He is chief of police in a town, where everyone knows each
other, and possibly the day-to-day duty might involve writing some parking
tickets. They can cozily sit in the station with their flasks and play a game of
chess. But, Andri’s marriage life is in shambles.

Andri’s house is being renovated and he is staying at his
in-law’s house with two children (Perla and Thorhildur). However, Andri’s wife
Agnes has requested for divorce and on that particular day she is arriving from
Reykjavik with her boyfriend Sigvaldi. For the man who is still hopefully wearing
his wedding ring this is very disappointing news. But Andri doesn’t show much on his
face. He boards up (or traps up) all the emotional pains inside his giant
physical stature. Agnes’ family home has few remainders of her dead younger
sister Dagny. The episode opens with Dagny and her boyfriend Hjortur riding to
an old factory for an intense session of sex. Later, Dagny is killed in a fire,
whose source remains mysterious, and Hjortur survives with few burns.
Meanwhile, a ferry from Denmark is arriving over the fjord. At the same time,
a mangled human torso is caught in a fisherman’s nest. Andri inspects the torso
in a perfect, clinical manner as if he has done it many times. Indeed, he has
worked in Reykjavik and transferred to the town for reasons unknown (transferred here after the
death of Dagny). Andri may have even felt a little relief for having a murder
case to solve; a weird distraction from the burgeoning existential crisis.

As the Danish ferry reaches its destination the weather turns
for the worst. Soon, everyone from the town’ Mayor to school children hears
about the mutilated corpse. Since the corpse looks fresh and pulled from the
water, the suspicion naturally falls on the members of ferry. Andri and his two
subordinates (Asgeir and Hinrika) begin their investigation on the ferry. Moreover, the roads are slowly closing down due
to the impending snow storm. The forensic team and higher police officials from
Reykjavik couldn’t fly in. So, the townsfolk and people in the boat are trapped
(including the murderer). It’s pretty much like Agatha Christie’s Ten Little
Indians situation, set in a bit wider societal canvas. We are then introduced
to the town’s different colorful characters, who either inhabit the powerful or
oppressed status. It now falls on Andri and his two less-experienced police
officers to solve the murder case, whose list of suspects even include the
Eastern European human-trafficking mafia. Before long, bodies start to pile up
as the three-member police team try to get a hold over the twists and turns.

There are some unique Icelandic elements in Trapped that
sets it apart from the other crime series from Norway, Sweden or Denmark. One is the formidable presence of nature, which literally dictates the narrative course. The
other is found in its constant reference to 2008 Icelandic financial crisis.
Although Iceland’s recovery from the economic collapse is portrayed as one of
the modern miraculous story (something to learn for other countries hit by
financial crisis), Trapped looks at the grass-root level impact of the crisis;
on how it provoked people to use unlawful means to rejuvenate the town’s
economy. The Mayor Hrafn and Reykjavik politician strives hard to coerce the locals for signing the deal
with China in order to turn their sleepy town into a major port city. As we often
saw in monochromatic film noir from old Hollywood, there will be crime when
wealthy men with big ambitions try to realize their plan through whatever
means. The frigid social and natural atmosphere in the small town perfectly
elevates the noir elements and allows room for organic twists.

There are definitely some hiccups and repetitions in the
narrative. The whole episode involving the Danish captain looks contrived and
melodramatic. Some characters work as mere narrative device (may be there will
fully evolve in the next season). The mystery looks a bit thin which could have
been fully realized within eight episodes. Nevertheless, I didn’t mind watching
10 episodes (and wouldn’t have if it’s extended for another episode) especially
for the atmosphere which may be exasperating to live in reality, but
provides a very immersive visual experience. Olafsson's majestic presence
is yet another reason to overlook the minor, understandable flaws.I also particularly liked the elegant
unraveling of the murderer identity. While usually we feel relief when the
killer’s identity is unmasked, we only feel a little sad here. Like the gruesome
murders, the actions that led the person to commit murder remain sorrowful. Finally,
staying true to Nordic crime fictions, Trapped doesn’t give up its bleakness or
ineradicable emotional wounds for an impossible happy ending. Andri’s plight
kind of makes you to chastise the person who first said, ‘truth sets you free’.
The release of truth here only deepens the void. As Andri walks away
emotionless in the last frame of the last episode there isn’t much hope.
Nevertheless, this dark Icelandic tale bestows fine comfort to briefly overlook
our own existential quandaries.

Trailer

Trapped (2015- ) is blessed with a fabulous natural
environment, richly detailed characters, and an absorbing mystery at its center. It’s a must watch for the fans of Nordic crime tales.